Manchin Apologizes for Missing Key Senate Votes
Metro News reports:
U.S. Senator Joe Manchin apologized to his constituents Tuesday for missing two key votes over the weekend.
Manchin has caught heat from friends and foes alike for failing to be on the Senate floor Saturday to vote on the repeal of “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” and the DREAM Act. Instead he was celebrating Christmas with his grandchildren in Pennsylvania.
"Let me apologize to anybody and everybody within our listening and reading areas. I'm very sorry for missing the two votes,” Manchin said during a conference call with reporters Tuesday.
Manchin says his oldest daughter is divorced and has one child from that first marriage. She and her ex-husband take turns when it comes to custody on the Christmas holiday.
"Last Christmas we were all together because we had all the kids on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day,” Manchin said. “This Christmas was the one where they get out of school this week and we won't be with them this weekend."
Manchin says the holidays are a very special time for his family and this year was no exception.
"Saturday was our Christmas and Saturday evening was our Christmas dinner. I got up Sunday and came back to Washington to make the votes I had to make,” he said.
